What Is Sedation Dentistry And Why Have It?
One of the fears ingrained into the minds of most people is that of visiting the dentist. It seems to be a common misconception that dentists just love to cause others horrific amounts of pain, but let our Edmond dentist be the first to say that he couldn’t feel more strongly about making patients feel as comfortable as possible. When the pain may be more than someone can handle or when the fear is just taking over, that’s when sedation dentistry is offered.
Sedation dentistry is one method our Edmond dentist can utilize to provide patients with an easier, less nerve-racking experience. Should this be something you desire, a calming medication will be administered for you to take either prior to your arrival or during the appointment. As you may have guessed from the previous statement, different types of sedation dentistry are available. Here are 3 types of sedation dentistry that our Edmond dentist can offer:
1.) Nitrous Oxide: This is what people most commonly refer to as laughing gas. A strap is placed over your nose that allows you to breathe the gas in. It only takes a few moments to give you a light, calming feeling. The great part is that it starts wears off within seconds of removal so it’s perfectly safe to drive right after your appointment!
2.) Oral Sedation: If laughing gas just isn’t strong enough for you, oral medication might be a better choice. This is a prescription of calming medication to be taken 1 hour before arriving. Since oral sedation can cause extreme drowsiness, it does require someone else to drive you to and from your appointment.
3.) IV Sedation: The most intense sedation dentistry, IV sedation, offered at our Edmond dentist office actually requires that a board-certified anesthesiologist come in to administer the medication properly. A consultation with our dentist may be necessary to determine if this type of sedation is really necessary. This method, too, may very well require a designated driver.
Our Edmond dentist cares about the comfort level of every patient that walks in the door. We never want anyone to be afraid to visit the dentist. Call our office and schedule a consultation appointment with Dr. Gray to talk about any questions or concerns you may have.
To contact our Edmond dentist, please call 405-330-5458 or click here.